ROCKFORD — If today's high of 13 degrees and sunny was to your liking, good.

More of the same is in store for Friday.

Sherman French put 60 miles on his Polaris 800 snowmobile Thursday afternoon. He said the recent snowfalls and continuing arctic blast are ideal.

"I went riding last night, and it was beautiful," the 53-year-old said. "All the trails are excellent."

French lives on Safford Road, near the 993-acre Anna Page Park, a haven for snowmobilers.

Rockford Park District snowmobile trails, which originate in Lockwood Park, are generally open when a 4-inch pad of snow and favorable weather conditions exist.

Cold weather and snow have not been a problem this year for snowmobile and sledding enthusiasts.

As of today, 22 inches of snow — 8 inches above normal — have been recorded at Chicago Rockford International Airport. By Jan. 2, 2012, we'd gotten 2.1 inches.

Snow has been frequent this season, if not heavy, but that's only half the story.

The other half is the prolonged stretch of nightly nose-diving temperatures that struggle to make it into double digits during the day.

"It's been a particularly harsh winter so far, and it's only going to get worse," said Gino Izzi, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Izzi was referring to forecasting models that showed a wind-chill advisory in effect until 10 a.m. Friday and a high of 13 degrees, then 7 degrees Sunday and 11 below zero Monday - the first day back to school for most students.

What about Saturday? It's an aberration: a predicted high of 28 degrees, but "it will be windy, so it won't feel that warm," Izzi said. "It's going to feel like it's in the single digits."

The NWS also is predicting a 50 percent chance of snow.

Rockford School District officials could make a decision on canceling school as soon as Sunday.

"If the forecast stays set as it is, if it drops as much as they're saying it's going to drop, we may not have school," Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt said.